Chongqing - A century-old operatic masterpiece is coming to the mountain city. The Italian original production of Giacomo Puccini's Turandot will premiere at the Chongqing Grand Theatre on January 10–11, 2026, inviting audiences to a dark, romantic, cross-cultural spectacle recreated with world-class craftsmanship.

A century-old operatic masterpiece is coming to the mountain city. The Italian original production of Giacomo Puccini's Turandot will premiere at the Chongqing Grand Theatre on January 10–11, 2026. (Photo:  Chongqing Grand Theatre)

Marking the 100th anniversary of the opera's first performance (1926–2026), this production brings together a peak ensemble from Italy to revive Puccini's final and most ambitious work. Tickets will officially go on sale next week.

The production features a full artistic team from Italy, with the Francesco Cilea Opera House Orchestra and Chorus performing Puccini's score live, including signature pieces such as Nessun Dorma and the Chinese-inspired Jasmine Flower. The staging has been developed under the guidance of the official Puccini Festival team from Lucca, the composer's hometown, who aim to recreate the atmosphere of a traditional Italian opera house within a contemporary Chinese venue.

A century-old operatic masterpiece is coming to the mountain city. The Italian original production of Giacomo Puccini's Turandot will premiere at the Chongqing Grand Theatre on January 10–11, 2026. (Photo:  Chongqing Grand Theatre)

Set in a mythical version of ancient China, Turandot tells the story of a formidable princess who challenges her suitors with three riddles, condemning those who fail. The arrival of Prince Calaf transforms the narrative from cruelty and fear into a confrontation with love, culminating in some of Puccini's most emotionally charged music. For many opera-goers, the work is renowned for its expansive chorus scenes, its blend of Eastern symbolism and Western musical language, and for the dramatic vocal demands placed on its leads.

A century-old operatic masterpiece is coming to the mountain city. The Italian original production of Giacomo Puccini's Turandot will premiere at the Chongqing Grand Theatre on January 10–11, 2026. (Photo: Chongqing Grand Theatre)

In Chongqing, the production will feature large-scale sets, handcrafted costumes inspired by imperial court dress, and visual motifs that merge Chinese aesthetics with European operatic tradition. Organisers say the staging will transform the theatre into an immersive environment that evokes both the grandeur of Puccini's imagination and the mythical world in which the story unfolds.

As cultural exchanges continue to deepen, the arrival of an Italian original production of Turandot is seen as a significant addition to the city's performing arts calendar. For Chongqing audiences, the 2026 New Year season will open with a rare opportunity to experience Puccini's final masterpiece in the form closest to how it was first conceived—a century after its debut and still commanding global fascination.